Man shot, killed in confrontation with trooper on Kenai Peninsula

Alaska State Troopers say a trooper shot and killed a driver during a confrontation on the Sterling Highway late Saturday.

The trooper, who won't be identified for 72 hours due to Department of Public Safety policy, suffered minor injuries in the incident.

According to an online dispatch, the incident began around 11:20 p.m., when the trooper attempted to pull a driver over near Mile 82 of the Sterling Highway on the Kenai Peninsula, not far from the Izaak Walton State Recreation Site.

"The Alaska State Trooper contacted the driver after a short pursuit who engaged the trooper in a physical altercation," troopers said.

At some point during the confrontation, the trooper drew his weapon and fired, killing the male driver, troopers said. It wasn't immediately clear early Sunday how many shots were fired in the incident, or where the final altercation took place.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene; the trooper was taken by ambulance to Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.

The identity of the driver will be released after his next of kin are notified.